Nurturing creativity and community through art

School raises money to secure historic building

Established in 2011, the Art School of Columbia County reaches more than 1,500 people each year with classes, exhibits and free art outreach programming in schools and libraries. (Submitted photo)

Established in 2011, the Art School of Columbia County reaches more than 1,500 people each year with classes, exhibits and free art outreach programming in schools and libraries. (Submitted photo)

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Established in 2011, the Art School of Columbia County reaches more than 1,500 people each year with classes, exhibits and free art outreach programming in schools and libraries. (Submitted photo)

Established in 2011, the Art School of Columbia County reaches more than 1,500 people each year with classes, exhibits and free art outreach programming in schools and libraries. (Submitted photo)

Photo: Picasa

Nurturing creativity and community through art

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An offer from a generous donor to the Art School of Columbia County came with a caveat.

The benefactor will donate the school's temporary residence — a historic 1880 schoolhouse and the surroundings gardens on a little less than a acre — but only if the nonprofit can raise $20,000 before the end of the year.

The art school has used the schoolhouse as its home base for exhibits, classes and free community outreach programs since it opened in 2011. In order to officially call it "home," the school launched a capital campaign, and money raised will be set aside for future maintenance.

If the nonprofit doesn't hit its goal, it will have to relocate.

Fundraisers have been held throughout the year, including one earlier this month at Verdigris Tea in Hudson.

"Tea for ASCC" raised nearly $1,000, which included a $100 match grant activated by a donation. In addition, Verdigris Tea owner Kim Bach donated 10 percent of the day's sales.

"I'm an artist myself, and I know how important guidance and stimulation were to my development," said Bach, whose shop is at 135 Warren St.

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"It was a pleasure to meet both old and new friends at Verdigris," said Kathryn Kosto, executive director of Art School of Columbia County. "About half knew of the school, and the balance were learning of our mission for the first time."

That mission, to nurture creativity and community through the visual arts, has been at the heart of the school since its founding.

Art School of Columbia County works to make classes and programs accessible to people of all ages, abilities and means throughout Columbia County and beyond. It reaches more than 1,500 people each year with in-house programming, as well as in local schools and libraries.

The nonprofit facilitates free and low-cost fine art instruction for seniors in need, children, teens and adults with help from many artists in the Hudson Valley, who volunteer to teach these beginners how to express themselves creatively.

It's because of the hundreds of hours of volunteer service that the school is able to provide its varied programming.

If the teal-green former schoolhouse on Route 21C becomes the school's permanent home, the organization will be able to expand its gallery, have a permanent teaching space and develop more on-site programming, both indoors and in the adjacent garden.

The nonprofit was about 80 percent of the way to its goal before #GivingTuesday, and inched closer after the annual day of giving.

The "get out and give" initiative celebrates and encourages philanthropic activities that support nonprofit organizations by harnessing the power of social media to create a national day of giving at the start of the holiday season, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become synonymous with holiday shopping.

With a mantra of "give more, give better and give smarter," the event offers creative ways for people and nonprofits around the world to collaborate in charitable endeavors to achieve more meaningful results.

"I love what ASCC does," Bach said. "This is a great opportunity to help, but the end of the year is a real deadline. The more we can contribute, the better."